posted Thursday, February 11; 5.14pm

Argyll and Bute Council has isued a press release concerning today’s budget announcement. which is reproduced blow.
A detailed analysis of the budget will follow shortly – after we have had time to analyse the figures.

Argyll and Bute Council agreed to invest more in its services for vulnerable people and on its roads network at its Budget meeting today.
The authority also agreed to freeze Council Tax for the third consecutive year.
The commitments came despite Argyll and Bute facing one of its most challenging budget rounds for a number of years, with a funding gap of some £8.3million in 2010/11.
Council Leader Dick Walsh said the authority had managed to safeguard and invest in its key priorities, whilst at the same time making the required savings.
“Our priorities are the protection of vulnerable people, education, developing the economy, improving customer service, developing communities and protecting and enhancing the environment,” he added.
“In focusing on these, we will offer Best Value services which are matched to the needs of our customers. We believe that this budget will help us to achieve that.”
In general terms, the budget represents an increase of some £2.3million (almost 7%) on the 2009/10 figure in the area of services to vulnerable adults.
Some £1.8millon will be directed towards Older People, and £0.8million to Learning Disabilities.
The Children and Families sector will also benefit from an increase (£605,000), as will Pre-school and Primary Education (£501,000).
In recognition of the recent cold weather and its effect on the 2,300km roads network, the Budget includes acceleration of £1million of capital funding to assist in roads reconstruction.
In addition, the authority has agreed to purchase two velocity patching vehicles (‘jet patchers’), as well as reinvest efficiency savings, to address the pot holes across the area.
Councillor Walsh said: “We will pay for these increases through good governance, service reform and prudence – an approach I am sure will be welcomed in households across Argyll and Bute.”
In addition, there were a number of budget savings proposals which the Council decided not to accept, or to adjust. Among them were:
Learning Disability Co-ordinator posts – reduce the savings option by 50% from £176,000 to £88,000. This will allow for a phased-in transition.
Voluntary Organisations – remove the proposed £50,000 savings option in grants to voluntary organisations in full. Instead, bring the current three grant streams of leisure development, education and social welfare into one stream, with applications determined by area committees. £60,000 will be top-sliced off this new combined allocation to a new events and festivals grant stream, again determined by area committees.
Neighbourhood Networks - remove the £109,000 savings option in full.
Surestart – remove the £50,000 savings option in full.
Children Affected by Disability -remove the £50,000 savings option in full.
Youth Crime – reduce the savings option suggested for the SACRO service by 50% from £44,000 to £22,000.
Stramash – remove the £12,000 savings option in full.
Three Islands Partnership – remove the £54,000 savings option in full
Walking Distance to School – agree the saving, but reduce it by £20,000 which will be spent on targeted road safety campaigns for the designated routes. Regular checks will also be made on the condition of lighting on these routes, with capital spend being directed to those areas if need be.
Red Cross Transport Scheme – remove the £15,000 savings option in full.
Campbeltown Town Hall – Postpone the date for the Council to cease incurring costs from April 1 to November 1 2010, at which time it will either be transferred to sustainable future use or mothballed.
Helensburgh Beach Cleaning – remove the £10,000 savings option in full.
Councillor Walsh also announced that – in addition to the measures already agreed and implemented to assist Mid Argyll Swimming Pool overcome its current difficulties – the Council will set aside £10,000 from its reserves to fund any operating deficit at the pool, should there be one, on a one-off basis.
During his speech, he touched on the Council’s achievements over the last year, including progress on the £30million CHORD programme, the partnership working to bring wind turbine manufacturer Welcon to Kintyre, positive discussions over the proposed Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry route, the adoption of the Local Plan, the establishment of the Business Gateway service, Argyll and Bute’s award-winning recycling scheme and improved facilities at Port Askaig and Rothesay harbours.
Turning to future years, Councillor Walsh stressed that the challenging financial environment was likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Indications are that the financial outlook for local government will be even more difficult in 2011/12 and 2012/13.
In a bid to be as well placed as possible to meet these challenges, Argyll and Bute Council decided that a more corporate and strategic approach to the budget was required this year.
To that end, a programme of service reviews was established which will see a radical review of each of the authority’s services over the next three years. The 2010/2011 financial year represents Year One of that process.
“Our budget this year is about much more than the way in which the Council spends its money. It marks the start of a complete review of the way in which we operate,” Councillor Walsh said.
“Over the next weeks and months, every penny we spend will be examined to ensure that we are getting the very best from our available resources.
“The financial outlook for Argyll and Bute – along with all other Councils - dictates that nothing should be exempt from this scrutiny. Every savings option not taken this time around will need to be looked at again in the next budget round, as will all other areas of expenditure”.
But he added that although the authority is undoubtedly facing a very tough economic climate, it is well placed to meet the challenges it will face.
“We have made significant progress already in the bid to establish a more cost-effective and customer focused way of working, and the pace of change is now picking up even further with the implementation of our new organisational and management structure,” Councillor Walsh said.
“We will continue to focus on reforming provision, striving for best use of our resources and pushing for even greater efficiency, flexibility and productivity across all Council services.
"We are determined to maximise the potential of our Council, our employees, our partnerships, our communities and Argyll and Bute as a whole in order to develop a bright and sustainable future.
“As a new and improved organisation, we look forward to continuing to work with our customers, communities and partners in our efforts to make this a better place in which to live, work and visit.”